Cutting apparatus



'w. c. EwALDsoN Ap 27, 194s.

cu'rTING APPARATUS Filed May e, '1946 s sheets-sheet 1 April 27, 1948. w. c. EwALDsoN CUTTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1946 A TTORNEY .ma wm u ....m uw wvl mm. Nm. .l hh, l vh April 27, 1948'. w.I c. EwALDsoN 2,440,464

y CUTTING AlfrARATus Filed May 8, 1946 s sheets-sheet 5 27 Fles MII/15111705I l Wc. EWAL oso/v A T TURA/EV Patented Apr. 27, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTING APPARATUS Waldemar C. Ewaldson, Millington, N. J., assigner to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 8, 1946, Serial No; 668,056

6 claims. (ci. ias- 13) the communication arts, cutting operations are performed in producing plates of the desired sizes from the mother stone. The commercial diamond saws are usually employed for the cutting operations and these saws decrease in diameter by continued use shortening their useful lives unless adjustments may be made in the relative movement of the saw and work support to make possible further use of the saws. Another feature, which has proven important not only in lengthening the life of a saw of this type, but in obtaining satisfactory results from the saw in cutting quartz crystals, is the controlling of the relative movement of the saw and work support to eliminate chipping or breaking of the crystal.

An object of the invention is to provide a cutting apparatus which is highly efficient in operation and accurately variable to cause relative movement of a cutter and work support at varied speeds between variable limits to cut work, particularly quartz crystals into given lengths.

Broadly, the invention comprises a rotatable cutter and a work support with operating means therefor to move the work support relative to the cutter between variable limits and at varied speeds to cause the cutter to cut through the work.

More specifically, the work support is mounted v upon a bracket which is Xed to a shaft with the shaft flxedly supportinga cam lever actuated by a cam movable at a constant speed in a given path to cause rocking movement of the shaft and Work support at varied speeds relative to the cutter. The varied speeds are accomplished by the angular positions of surface portions of the cam with respect to the path of the cam, controlling the rocking motion of the shaft under the force of a spring which holds the cam lever or its roller in engagement with the surface portions of the cam. During action of the cam in one direction, by operation of an air cylinder, the Work is fed to the cutter slowly during the first portion of the cut, then more rapidly to a point short of the' completion of the cut, and finally less rapidly again during the remainder of the cutting operation. It has been found equally advantageous in removing the work from the cutter to carry out these variable movements in reverse order and this is accomplished by the same cam surface portions while the cam` returning to its normal or starting position by operation of the air cylinder.

At different intervals during the life of one lcutter as it decreases in diameter during con- 4 tinued use, the limits of the work support may be varied by a mechanism which, when actuated, will check with the exact diameter of the cutter and accurately varythe given limits of the work support with respect to the cutter. `Through this mechanism, the operator may continue to use the cutter until it has been reduced to such a small diameter that it will no longer satisfactorily cut through the work.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the cutting apparatus;

Fig.Y 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of the cutting apparatus; Y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detailed View of the apparatus; Y

Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryside elevational view illustrating the normal position of the control mechanism for the apparatus:

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. `6 is a top plan view of a crystal marked for cutting.

Referring now to the drawings, a housing I0 is provided for the major portion of the control mechanism, suitable means II being provided upon the housing to support a motor I 2. The motor I2 drives a cutter I4 through a belt and pulley connection I5, the cutter being at a lixed position and removably mounted at I6 upon its shaft Il. A suitable guard I8 shown in only Figs. 1 and 4 is provided for the cutter. In the present embodiment, the quartz crystal structure, which hereinafter will be referred to as the crystal or work, has been cut into portions of desired thickness and width, this apparatus being employed to cut the'crystal 20 illustrated in Fig. 6 into predetermined lengths. The crystal may be marked by lines 2| designating where the cuts are to be made. The work or crystal 20 :is then placed upon a holder or work support 22 which is mounted upon the upper end of a bracket 23. The lower end of the bracket 23 is flXedly mounted upon a shaft 24 supported in suitable bearings 25, only one of which is shown in the drawings; Acam lever 21 is mounted upon the outer` end of the shaft 24 free for rocking move- `ment on the shaft, the lever being held in place guide 35 'and 'is connecte by a collar 28 xedly mounted on the end of the shaft. One arm of the lever 21 supports a cam roller 29 which rides upon the upper surface of a cam 30. The upper surface of the cam 39 is divided into portions 3|, 32, 33 and 34 which function in controlling the speed of movement of the crystal 20 .relative to the cutter I4. The cam 30 is mounted:for-longitudinalemovement in a d to a pstorr'rod31 'of an air cylinder 38. The air cylinder 38 is fixedly mounted in the housing through a fluid line 40 and a foot controlledvalve'l 4I, to a supply line 42 for a supply of air under pressure necessary for the op cylinder. The valve 4I and itszconnectionswitlr the air cylinder are of the type' that'will'nor-H mally open a fluid line 43 of the cylinder functioning to return the cam 30 to its normal or starting .position and to hold thel cam in this position untilthe valve 4I is actuated to exhaust air in fronthof inder and open the airflin'es f42i-'4Ilitocaus'e" movement of the cam-30t the-left (Figjl) The vertical arm of the cam-lever -21 Frias'lan elongate opening 45" therein tofrecei-v'e anllec'cenr tric portion `i5 f fanfladjustirigelement-141Theil main or centraliportion-'otthe adjustingfellerhent"`v is cylindrical in vgenerallcontourand ismounted for `rotation or rocking' movementiin Zanfapertule'A 48 of `an'Y arm 49whi'ch-li's fiXedlyT-.inountedon-Ithef shaft- `2li'. Th-e arm' 49 *carries spaced screwsf the Vertical arm of the lever 21;"3Sprirgsf52 carried-by the screw-S259betweenwashrs'thereon applyv v"'suiii; adjustment f o lever 21 for normal movementwitlithearnr49;"

The`v` cam lever l4'!rnay-Hberijad-jifsted relative to the arm 49 to vary the roclcin'gfmotion-fofl 'the'. shaft 24 by lrotationsoi the adjusting element'2'41. The mechanism for adjusting cludes a member 54 pinned to -laV concentric profjection55 of the element and spaced irmlthe arm t9-'by a coverfiplat'e 56i1wh1chfserves fto'retain 'the element in position-in=theffarmlSSI-'Thel. member 54 carries a pin-51fspaced` ir'orn the :pro-rif jection` Y55 and positioned 'fbe'tweens the. ja'wsf'' and 59 of a yoke $9.712 JTheiyoke'lhas a' reduced-'r portion 6 I pivotally supported at' 62Tfn1alever`l63. A projecting lug E4 on the top of theileve" 3 is' positioned to engage .lthej .reducedi portion-' 6I of the yoke ol'and an adjustable =`screwf65 isfcar-" riedby a;v projection G3i-abme*bottomfor runder-ft surfaceof thelever 63t a1so'lengage1the reduced?. portion-#6 I fof .the Ayoke 'Thelever-BB is '.ixe'dlyrk mounted up'ona sha'ftGSWhich vis vsupported' for. f rocking "f movement in# .suitableffbearings' v(not shown) A 'hand' levier` ilisixedly* mounted upon -theshaft 'xt'ernallyiof '-the-PhousingnI-D and carriesa hollowljhandlell, a movablepore" tion '12 of :which::telescopesthez mai and-is -norrnallylurg'edlto thelef (Figi 13)by a' springi '.'I'he springt-1321s .concentricwiths-a pin 514 which hasicneend iixedto .therhandlel portion 12, the i. otherfend beingireceivable iin fran 1 aperture '-'of ftheihous'ingzf I IJ.` fWh'enathelrpin 14'7is in theaperturef 1532'themechani'snrflinked'f with i its shaftf Lis' in its? normal position;.f-fther.` pini being'v free to movealong.;theadjacent' fisuraA` face 4of the housing4 Iwhenl removed fromthe?N aperture15l A linger-18 is mounted upon` the 4shaft B8`ad-1I jacent -thelcutter-t i4 andifis moved With'the rocking of the'shaft Ifinto engagement withtheff cutterl Whenit fis desirablefto' make adjustment IU and is connected-l nA portion'fl I 4 Ain the feeding mechanism or the limits between which the work support is moved.

During normal operation of the apparatus, the crystal 20 is placed on the work support 22 with 5 one of its lines 2| in alignment with the cutter I4. While the crystal 2 9 is held in place on the work support, the operator actuates the valve Icausing `:operation of "the'air cylinder' 38 to inove'the cam 39 =at a constant speed tothe left l0 (Fig. 1) successively moving the portions 3I, 32,

` 33=and 34 of the cam beneath the cam roller 29.

Asprin-gs having one end connected to the cam lever 21, and the other end connected to anfadjustingI screw.;8.l',".provides a variable force to rock-lthe'camflever 21, the arm 49, the shaft 24 andthe 4bracket v23 to movel the Work support with the crystal. Afrom. its loading position through its cutting* position. Diiring'l the first movement of the Work support, it is moved rapidly as the cam roller 29 (Figrzl.) r rides down thef.camportion -3I1. -The speed'of movementl duced to a slow spec onthev cam portion 32' reaching they cutter 'which tained until thein inthe crystal. f vAterithis the speedof movement'of tive to 'the 'cutter-l is increase Vrides :0n-the cam por-tion 33 and this fhigher speedto `a pos endfofi the cut.i Thespeedbfmove work support.- is Y .then-` reduced ras theY camroller rides on` the.Y cam por-tion' 34 so that thenalcut through the crystal 1 is =ma prior A to Y.the crystal of --movement during crystal.- -When'` the iirs made 1 in the crystal-,w l the voperator .remove .footirom-.the` valve =4 I turn to its :normal pos back )of the f piston. and-.to openfth to ther supply lline 42 jto -retur normal position shown in Fi return movement of -the-l cam, travelsat the samespeeds. feeding movement ytherv crystallparts b onthe work support. duringlthelretur ment thereofr l to -vtheloading. position. ,erator-may then dispose .ofl vthevrst cutl crystal member ande. adjustthe-rem the second cutting operation.

The .cutting operations .may continue until 'the cutter I4 has decreased-in diameter by' continued usez so that .it Vis necess v in Xthe. feeding-mechanism.n This adjustment is made vvhilethe cutter t completeJcut .has .been

s vhis 40 itionV -tof exhaust air from the workY support I1 move* rocking the hand lever 1 min'Figs. 1 and .3. The hand r1ever11l moved un ery of f the "cutter f. I 4. the cam.lever21 is held iagai cam .30- and= .the 'spring --8I).-y .When the. lis rockededur'ing movement 'of them-lever position* the `finger 18 in engagementwith the periphery of :the cutter rocked clockwise rmoving During this.V movement,

58 ofgthe yo 51'1(^Figs. 2 and 5) .and ro given distance 'depending'upon the mov the finger-18. 'f Thisfrock ber 54 will-rock 152111,55" projection 55',-r"the eccent ofthe -work'lsupportis red as the cam roller-29 rides..

slow speed vis main.. itial portion of the. cut is ymade Ahas-heen accomplishedr.

the work support re1a. d-.as-.the cam. roller. f continues at ition short of ,the exit. mentor thel` de with-the vcrystal i movingata slowspeed-comparable with thespeed the. initial v-icut into Vtheallowing the .valve to re -`l e fluidline 43A nlthe'.. cam to4 itsH During' .the

it travelled. .during `its"` eing'lheldY ary. .to .make adjustment` is idle,-the operator. removing the pin 14 -f-rom=the-aperture v'i5 and` 9 to thepositionshown =is .thustil thea finger 18 engages-the .periph.

nst rotation by the'y i. .shaft 38 Y'I)l 130 I4; thev lever 3.wi11:be.. the .yoke 69 in thesa-me directionfby its engagement Iwiththe screw 65,. keto engagethe pinA ement of ing motion of the inem the adjusting-'element 41 `through ric. Aportion ,'46 -.caus.

ing relative movement of the arm "t9 and the cam lever 2l'. Actually the arm 59 is moved against the force of the springs 51 on the screws 50. When this adjustment has been completed, the hand lever 10 is returned to its normal position where the pin 1d will again enter the aper ture rocking the shaft 53 a sumcient distance to free the linger 19 from the cutter lll and rock the lever 53 with the yoke 60 counterclockwise until the jaws 59 and 59 are spaced from the pin 51.

During the next cutting operation, the work support will be moved between limits spaced the same distance apart both of which, however, have been moved toward the axis of the cutter a distance equal to the wear on the cutter. These adjustments may be made when thought advisable by the operator until the cutter has been reduced to a diameter no longer suitable for the cutting operations desired. At this time a new cutter may be mounted upon the shaft I1 and the work support may be returned to its initial start ing position to move between the fixed given limits through the same adjusting mechanism which has been employed to advance the given limits of the work support toward the axis of the cutter. This may be accomplished by removing the pin 14 from the aperture 15 and rotating the handle 10 counterclockwise to move the lever 63 until the projection 54 engages the reduced portion 6| of the yoke $9 causing the jaw 59 to engage the pin 51 and move it to its starting or initial position governed by an adjustable screw 85 mounted in a fixed bracket 86. Movement of the pin 51 will rotate the member 54 rotating also the projection 55 upon which it is mounted and the adjusting member 41 causing the arm 49 to return to its original position with respect to the cam lever 21 by the eccentric member 45. The apparatus is again in readiness to begin its cutting operations.

During normal operation of the apparatus the work support will move at the speeds controlled by the cam 30 through the cam roller 29 and the associated mechanism. If, however, the cutter should become dull prior to the termination of its usefulness, as far as its effective diameter is concerned, so that it will not cut the crystal at the feeding speeds, the cam roller 29 will leave the cam against the force of the springs 80. This is an added protective feature in the cutting apparatus.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as dened by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cutting apparatus, a cutter rotatable about a fixed axis, a movable supportl for work to be cut in two by the cutter, means active to force the support with the work at high speed toward the cutter, and means to control the movement of the support to cause it to move slowly during the beginning of the cutting operation into the leading edge of the work and to subsequently cause the support to increase its speed of movement while cutting through the main body of the work.

2. In a cutting apparatus, a cutter rotatable about a xed axis, a movable support for work to be cut thereby, means active to force the support with the work at selected variable speeds toward the cutter, and a cam movable at a constant speed and having angularly positioned surfaces to respectively control the movement of the support with the work at a rapid speed as the work approaches the cutter, at a low speed during the initial portion of the cut, at a higher speed during the subsequent cutting of the work to a Vposition short of the exit end of the out and at a lower speed during the nal portion of the cutting operation.

3. In a cutting apparatus, a cutter rotatable about a fixed axis, a movable support for work to be cut thereby, means active to force the support with the work at selected variable speeds toward the cutter, a cam movable at a constant speed to effect movement of the support with the work at a variable speed relative to the cutter, and uid operated means to move the cam.

4. In a cutting apparatus, a cutter, decreasing in radial dimensions with wear, rotatable about a xed axis, a shaft, a support for work to be cut mounted thereon, an element disposed on the shaft and movable between fixed limits, a member flxedly mounted on the shaft and connected to the element for movement therewith to rock the work support with the shaft between given limits, and a mechanism movable a distance limited by the radial dimension of the cutter to vary the position of the member with respect to the element to vary the given limits of the work support relative to the cutter.

5. In a cutting apparatus, a cutter, decreasing in radial dimensions with wear, rotatable about a xed axis, a shaft, a support for Work to vbe cut mounted thereon, an element disposed on the shaft and movable between fixed limits, a member xedly mounted on the shaft, an eccentric unit connecting the member with the element for movement of the member with the element to rock the work support with the shaft between given limits, and means to actuate the eccentric unit to vary the position of the member relative to the element to vary the given limits of the work support relative to the cutter as the cutter decreases in radial dimensions. l

6. In a cutting apparatus, a cutter, decreasing in radial dimensions with wear, rotatable about a fixed axis, a shaft, a support for work to be cut mounted thereon, an element disposed on the shaft and movable between fixed limits, a member xedly mounted on the shaft and connected to the element for movement therewith to rock the work support with the shaft between given limits, a mechanism movable a distance limited by the radial dimension of the cutter to vary the position of the member with respect to the element to vary the given limits of the work support relative to the cutter, and means cooperating with the said mechanism to return the member to its original position with respect to the element to return the support to its initial limits.

WALDEMAR C. EWALDSON.

REFERENCESV CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,341,818 Onsrud June 1, 1920 1,385,731 Taylor July 26, 1921 1,933,055 Hague Oct. 31, 1933 2,077,359 Flygare Apr. 13, 1937 2,144,205 Landy Jan. 17, 1939 

